In all honesty, the draft for 2013 shouldn't be held if there isn't going to be a season. Everyone one of the kids eligible for the 2013 draft should be declared a free agent and let what ever teams go after them. There wouldn't be any sort of bidding war because of the fact that there's already a rookie max salary scale in place. To have a draft when there isn't a season is ridiculous. Same with the 2005 draft. There shouldn't have been a draft either.

I'm pretty sure that's a terrible idea. There may be a cap on ELC salary, but I'm sure that "performance bonuses" can quickly entice people to join. The NHL needed a method to control the draft. I have no problems with how they handled it..

In all honesty, the draft for 2013 shouldn't be held if there isn't going to be a season. Everyone one of the kids eligible for the 2013 draft should be declared a free agent and let what ever teams go after them. There wouldn't be any sort of bidding war because of the fact that there's already a rookie max salary scale in place. To have a draft when there isn't a season is ridiculous. Same with the 2005 draft. There shouldn't have been a draft either.

that's a terrible idea.

I don't see why not having a season should effect the draft. obviously who was best/worst should be factored in, and how they did it last time makes sense to me.

to just let anyone sign them (though i believe there is a cap even for performance bonuses on ELCs [mid 3.xx' mils i' believe?) goes exactly against what the NHL is locking out for....

Nick Ebert is currently ranked ninth overall in the International Scouting Services’ rankings of prospects, putting him ahead of players such as Griffin Reinhart and Matia Marcantuoni. There is no question that Ebert can be picked ahead of both of those players in June, and he’s still expected to move up a few spots in the rankings over the course of the season.

Rankings don't start to manifest themselves until early December at the earliest, more like mid-january. I believe MacKinnon is going to be a fantastic player, will be a star. Jones should be a top 5, probably top 2, but let's see how the year progresses. The rest...let's wait and see a little. I personally really liked what I saw out of Barkov last year in the WJC and a little bit of limited highlights, but it's still early.

Heres the thing. Even if we get a top 10 pick, Chevy is going to pick someone nobody considered.

yah no kidding eh? I mean NO BODY would consider taking a guy not ranked where they were picking in the ultimate gospels of prospect ranking would they? Our GM is such a boneheaded freak for listening to his scouts instead of ISS's...what a joke...

/sarcasmoff

please look at least years draft where Chevy picked trouba essentially exactly where he was projected.

meanwhile at least 4 of the teams ahead picked players that were not around where they were ranked.

I knew that Yakupov, Reinhart, Galchenyuk, Grigorenko, Grigensons, etc. were likely out of our reach going into the draft, so I hoped that we would end up with either Dumba or Trouba, preference on Trouba. I was not unhappy that we got him.

Edit: And with the recent troubles that Yakupov is going through in regards to IIHF sanctions and perhaps being forced to play in the OHL, I'm glad that he's not our problem.

I knew that Yakupov, Reinhart, Galchenyuk, Grigorenko, Grigensons, etc. were likely out of our reach going into the draft, so I hoped that we would end up with either Dumba or Trouba, preference on Trouba. I was not unhappy that we got him.

Edit: And with the recent troubles that Yakupov is going through in regards to IIHF sanctions and perhaps being forced to play in the OHL, I'm glad that he's not our problem.

Uh, I would have LOVED to get Yakupov, pretyy sure 29 other teams would still be ecstatic to have him as well. This minor blip about transfer agreement is not much of anything, IMO. He was easily the best player in the draft last year, there's a reason the Oilers passed on a HUGE need in Murray to take him, he is a special player. One maybe half season (even full season) is not going to make any kind of difference...(he'll be back in KHL soon, it's a money grab by Sarnia, IMO)

Uh, I would have LOVED to get Yakupov, pretyy sure 29 other teams would still be ecstatic to have him as well. This minor blip about transfer agreement is not much of anything, IMO. He was easily the best player in the draft last year, there's a reason the Oilers passed on a HUGE need in Murray to take him, he is a special player. One maybe half season (even full season) is not going to make any kind of difference...(he'll be back in KHL soon, it's a money grab by Sarnia, IMO)

That's likely the case. Now that I've read up a bit more on it, it looks to be just the IIHF and Hockey Canada following protocol, not acting out of petty jealousy. If Sarnia can't have their star player playing for them, they want to be compensated somehow. I only wonder at the fallout that will ensue if Sarnia forces Yakupov to play for them. >_>